In a time marked by escalating war, violence, and global uncertainty, poetry continues to offer a language for conscience, resistance, and refuge.

Poets will read from their contributions to the anthology Crossing Lines: Poets Who Came to Canada in the Vietnam War Era with readings from:

• Edward Baranosky
• Sue Chenette
• Roger Greenwald
• Guy Ewing
• John Reibetanz
• Allen Sutterfield

Each attendee will receive a copy of the anthology.

Their lives were shaped by a profound historical choice: each left the United States during the Vietnam War era. In refusing to participate in war, they crossed borders—geographical, political, and moral—and found new homes in Canada. Their writing carries the imprint of that decision: poems shaped by exile and belonging, protest and quiet witness, rupture and renewal.

Through readings, reflection, and conversation, this gathering honours not only their artistic contributions but also the enduring role of poetry in times of conflict. These voices remind us that art can hold complexity where slogans cannot, and that dissent—expressed with care and craft—can become part of a country’s cultural inheritance.

After the readers there will be an open mic on the theme of war and peace.

This is an opportunity to listen deeply, to remember, and to imagine how language might still guide us toward more humane futures